Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Desparate And Itching Again


skyyblues

Recommended Posts

skyyblues Newbie

Hello - I am desparate and hoping to find answers.....

Symptoms: Dishydrotic Exzema - Mainly hands but also arms, legs, chest, and recently face.

Diarrhea - 10 - 15min after eating - sometimes stabbing pains

Arthritis in knee

Leg cramps

Throat closes - Occaisonally happens when swallowing (unknown trigger)

Steroids: Prednisone - Nov and Dec 08 / Apr 09

Kenalog - Shots 2x in Jan 09

Medications: Omeprazole 20mg 2x day - Indestion 3/09

Simvastin 40 mg 1 day - Cholestoral 3/09

Ranitidine 150mg 2x day - trying to reduce acid in body to help exzema

Fexofenadine 180mg 2x day - allergy symptoms exzema

Singular 10mg 1 day - allergy symptoms exzema

Hydroxyzine 10mg up to 3 at bedtime - for severe itching at night to sleep

Benadryl - itching

I had some allergies as a child. Exzema on back of thighs never diagnosed cleared up. 2 1/2 yrs ago while changing jobs had new carpet and linoleum installed at which time I started to break out on legs and hands, spreading to arms. Kept seeing dr's none of which had any clue. June 07 had allergy tests which showed cabbage, formaldehyde, and several other perservatives. Got allergy somewhat under control in 08 until I had a root canal in Sept. Started to break out again. Allergy doc put me on prednisone(hate it). Had severe breakout and staph infection on hand in Jan. At that time they did a biopsy of my hand and I just inquired and it was not DH. Had just finished prednisone so they shot me with kenalog twice within a week and a half. Hands got somewhat better. March thighs broke out, hands worse, arms and chest also broke out. Saw my GP for regular check up and when he saw me he asked if anyone ever tested for Celiac Sprue. I said no, so he ordered blood tests. I did research. Wow could this be it??? Blood tests came back negative, but told that can happen (would steroids affect test results?). Doc said go ahead and try gluten free. Stomach is better than it has ever been!! Yeah. Was out of town 1st week of gluten free and arms and legs started to fade and couldn't see new blisters on hands!! On Thurs nite eye itching. Friday still itching starts swelling.... Friday nite when lips started to numb went to ER. Prednisone and Benadryl again... I am weaning off prednisone as quickly as possible and doc has sent me for consult with Gastro doc to do enoscopy for biopsy. I know I will have to go back to eating "poison" for correct testing. Thought of running to bathroom with pain not pleasant but I am willing to do anything at this point.

I am sorry for such a long post but am feeling at my wits end. Doctors call me a freak, friends and family are somewhat supportive but think I am just going to get a shot and be fine. My hands are cycling horribly, my thighs are broke out a little and I just want to cry at my own private pity party..... :( ......Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

Becky - Racine, WI


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ang1e0251 Contributor

You are Not a freak. You are sick. People, dr's included, are judgemental. Gluten can cause all the symptoms you described. It might not be your only problem but your dietary response is dramatic. It is affecting you.

Keep us posted. No one else might understand but we do.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Ginger38 replied to Ginger38's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      4

      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

    2. - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      18

      My only proof

    3. - Ginger38 replied to Xravith's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Challenges eating gluten before biopsy

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Xravith's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Challenges eating gluten before biopsy

    5. - Scott Adams replied to emzie's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      2

      Stomach hurts with movement


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,469
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Jcarder
    Newest Member
    Jcarder
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Ginger38
      It has been the most terrible illness ever! Going on 3 weeks now… I had chicken pox as a kid… crazy how much havoc this dormant virus has caused after being reactivated! No idea what even caused it to fire back up. I’m scared this pain and sensitivity is just never going to improve or go away 
    • Mari
      OKJmartes. Skin and eyes. Also anxiety and frustration. I have read that Celiacs have more skin problems than people who do not have Celiacs. I take increased levels of Vit. D3, very high levels of B12 and an eating part of an avocado every day. KnittyKitty and others here can add what they take for skin health. A Dermatologist might identify the type of skin condition. By eyes you may mean eyesight problems not just irritated, red eyes. It is not very difficult to get a diagnosis of which eye condition is affecting your vision but much more difficult to find an effective remedy. The ophthalmologists I have seen have been only a little helpful. There seems to have been some advances in eye treatments that most of them are completely ignorant of or just won't add to their treatment plans.  Forcertain you may as well buy some remedy from a facebook ad but that is obviously risky and may actually damafe your eyes. However it is known that certain supplements , taken at the effectivelevels do help with eyesight. Two of them are Luten and zanthamin (spelling?)and certain anti-oxidants such as bilberry..    Hope this helps.
    • Ginger38
      I refused to do the gluten challenge for a long time because I knew how sick I would be: I have always had and still have positive antibodies and have so many symptoms my  GI was 💯 sure I would have a positive biopsy. I didn’t want to make myself sick to get a negative biopsy and be more confused by all this.  He couldn’t guarantee me a negative biopsy meant no celiac bc there may not be damage yet or it’s possible to miss biopsies where there’s damage but he was so sure and convinced me I needed that biopsy I went back on gluten. It was a terrible experience! I took pictures of the bloating and swelling and weight gain during the challenge. I gained 9 pounds, looked pregnant, was in pain , couldn’t work or function without long naps and the brain fog was debilitating. And in the end he didn’t get a positive biopsy… so I wish I had never wasted my time or health going through it. I haven’t been truly straightened  out since and I am currently battling a shingles infection at 43 and I can’t help but wonder if the stress I put my body under to try and get an official diagnosis has caused all this. Best of luck to you - whatever you decide. It’s not a fun thing to go through and I still don’t have the answers I was looking for 
    • Scott Adams
      It's completely understandable to struggle with the gluten challenge, especially when it impacts your health and studies so significantly. Your experience of feeling dramatically better without gluten is a powerful clue, whether it points to celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. It's very wise of you and your doctor to pause the challenge until your holidays, prioritizing your immediate well-being and exams. To answer your questions, yes, it is possible for blood tests to be negative initially and become positive later as the disease progresses, which is why the biopsy remains the gold standard. Many, many people find the gluten challenge incredibly difficult due to the return of debilitating symptoms, so you are certainly not alone in that struggle. Wishing you the best for your exams and for obtaining clearer answers when you're able to proceed.
    • Scott Adams
      It's smart that you're seeing the gastroenterologist tomorrow. While it's possible this is a severe and persistent inflammatory reaction to gluten, the fact that the pain is movement-dependent and localized with tenderness is important for your specialist to hear. It could indeed be significant inflammation, but it's also worth ruling out other overlapping issues that can affect those with celiac disease. Is it possible you got some gluten in your diet somehow? This could be a possible trigger. Hopefully, tomorrow's appointment will provide clearer answers and a path to relief so you can get back to your lectures and enjoy your weekend. Wishing you all the best for the consultation.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.